Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #nusra

Most recents (24)

.@frontlinepbs's documentary on #HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani begins at 10pm EST tonight -- it's already caused shockwaves in the jihadist world.

I've been studying #HTS (& its predecessors) & Jolani's leadership for 10yrs -- the story has profound analytical implications. Image
@frontlinepbs Few could have imagined in 2012-13 that Jolani's Jabhat al-Nusra would years later have a new name & be speaking in quasi nationalist tones; running a semi-technocratic "govt"; proactively engaging w. international NGOs & media; & seeking to establish dialogue w. Western govts.
@frontlinepbs The path between '12 Nusra & '21 #HTS is complex & strewn with inter-factional conflict; vicious internal strife; geopolitical manipulation; and above all, the impact of #Syria's nationwide uprising.

In breaking from #AlQaeda, #Jolani sparked a massive intra-jihadist debate.
Read 32 tweets
I wonder where @Pontifex_es was when the Christians of #Iraq where being massacred by #Daesh
Oh right..he was enabling the western regimes to continue there support for takfiri terrorists.
How about visiting #Syria to check on the Catholics there too? Nah, who cares about Syrians
P.S.
You do not like my tweet?
Tell that to the nuns of Maaloula who were kidnapped by #Nusra and @Pontifex_es was nowhere to be found😘
More questions:
Does @Pontifex_es know that the two men responsible for protecting the Christains of Iraq from #Daesh and making sure the church bells ring again were assassinated on Iraqi soil by US occupation drones?
Read 5 tweets
Very, very interesting.

#HTS & its leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani have just finished hosting @frontlinepbs's @Martin28Smith in #Idlib for 3 days.

How times change -- quite a difference from 2014/15.
@frontlinepbs @Martin28Smith #pt: It's no secret that #HTS has been pushing hard behind-the-scenes for opportunities to improve its image abroad -- first in outreach to researchers/institutes & more recently giving top access to highly-regarded media outlets.

And fwiw, PBS is one of several.
@frontlinepbs @Martin28Smith #pt: That #HTS is pushing this shouldn't come as a surprise -- the ingredients were put in place as far back as 2015, when a prolonged internal debate regarding the right path for Jabhat al-Nusra began. Clerical "lobby groups" got involved & then #JFS was created; then #HTS.
Read 15 tweets
This thread by @hxhassan is worth a read -- #HTS's violent response to #AlQaeda affiliate Huras Al-Din's overreach will have significant consequences.

A few additional notes of my own, to follow:

- This is all entirely consistent with #HTS/#JFS/#Nusra policy since ~2014.
@hxhassan My understanding of events leading up to the all-out fight differs somewhat -- #HTS's arrest of Abu Saloh al-Uzbeki
& Abu Malik al-Talli were *very* inflammatory to HaD. Both were crucial sources of finance & external networks. Plus, they came amid several escalatory accusations:
@hxhassan 1. After Abu Saloh's arrest, rumor swirled that #Turkey's MIT had transferred messages from #Moscow to #HTS, requesting his extradition via #Ankara in exchange for political & economic rewards.

Abu Saloh is accused of coordinating multiple attacks in #Russia in recent yrs.
Read 14 tweets
Salafist mercenaries from Syria, sent by #Erdogan to #Libya and captured by the Libyan National Army. Thank you @r_u_vid -
The Libyan soldier asks them where they are from and they mostly respond, from Syria via Turkey. English subtitles on this shorter clip.
I call them 'salafist mercenaries' because they are paid by Erdogan's Muslim Brotherhood, which has merged with the #Saudi / salafi styled #DAESH and #Nusra. Syrian and Kurdi soldiers both tell me there is "no difference" between DAESH, Nusra and the 'Free Army'. They chase $$.
Read 3 tweets
How #Syrians see #Erdogan's escalation in #Idlib. "The army units are carrying out fierce clashes with Jabhat al #Nusra terrorists and #Turkish -supported groups on #Saraqeb axis in Idleb countryside." sana.sy/en/?p=186856
SANA: "terrorist groups involved tens of suicidal terrorists and car bombs on the western axis of Saraqib city with intensified firing support by the Turkish regime forces where army units confronted them, killed and injured dozens of them."
#Erdogan's occupation forces make more direct attacks on the #Syrian military, advancing in #Idlib, as their allied #AlQaeda groups are driven back. From R&U videos, 28 February 2020:
Read 3 tweets
#Trump's imperial gangs murder #Iraqi and #Iranian generals Muhandis y Soleimani in #Baghdad. Expect retaliation. Image
#Trump ordered the murder of General #Soleimani Image
#Iran's foreign minister Zarif: #Washington bears full responsibility for its terrorism, against those who fought their proxies #Nusra and #Daesh Image
Read 3 tweets
Russia’s relentless and vicious campaign in NW Syria, where millions of civilians and IDPs live and could be forced to flee en mass, continues. The leader of the force that dominates that area has a new speech. A new & dangerous chapter is looming.

Details in following tweets:
Just in:

Abu Muhammed al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (#HTS, former Jabhat al-#Nusra), appeared in a video about latest developments in #Idlib.

He focuses on Russia, as the new enemy determined to restore "the glory of the Soviet Union".
Al-Jolani says the Syrian revolution has achieved many goals against the Syrian regime, including the fracturing of its army (rendered militias), decimated economy, and domestic & international isolation. (Net gains for the rebels.)
Read 22 tweets
49. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria
#RegimeChange #FakeNews #FalseFlag #terrorism #SyriaInvasion #WarCrimes #CrimesAgainstHumanity
1 to 20. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria 🤨👇🏼
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21 to 40. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria 🤨👇🏼
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Read 391 tweets
48. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria
#RegimeChange #FakeNews #FalseFlag #terrorism #SyriaInvasion #WarCrimes #CrimesAgainstHumanity
1 to 20. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria 🤨👇🏼
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21 to 40. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria 🤨👇🏼
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Read 501 tweets
Tensions increase in Lebanese city as protesters clash with Harakat Amal supporters: video aml.ink/GfhJ7
"#Hezbollah leader Hassan #Nasrallah has signaled his readiness to support the current #Lebanese govt amid the ongoing protests in the capital Beirut. In a televised speech, Nasrallah said that he would back the govt,“but with a new agenda & a new spirit”
aml.ink/VHBBY
"The #Turkish-backed militants launched a surprise attack on the #SyrianArmy’s defenses near the #Syrian-#Turkish border today in a bid to advance to the Tal Tamr District of Al-Hasakah."
aml.ink/22K22
Read 495 tweets
I've made my thoughts clear on how *bad* #Trump's decisions have been for #Syria policy (& the #SDF).

But let's just get something straight:

- The U.S. knowingly decided to ally with a designated terrorist organization (the #PYD/#YPG) in 2014 to fight #ISIS in #Kobani & beyond.
#pt: The State Dept, NCTC & CIA all viewed the #PYD as the #PKK's #Syria affiliate in 2013 -- that's in public documents.

That label was [quietly] removed in 2014.

In #Turkey - a #NATO state, whether we like it or not - the #PKK is viewed as *the* existential security threat.
#pt: #Turkey was complicit in terrible #Syria border control & ties to #Nusra. No doubt.

But put that aside for minute:

Imagine if a foreign state brought #ISIS to #Mexico & armed it to fight cartels, while assuring #Washington: "don't worry, they're only interested in Mexico."
Read 8 tweets
Amid the ongoing conflict in NW #Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (#HTS) continues to evolve in intriguing ways - into a more politically mature & intelligent jihadist movement.

It's current leadership clearly seeks to position itself somewhere between #MuslimBrotherhood & #AlQaeda.
There's now little question that #HTS no longer represents #AlQaeda.

It's clearly still an extremist movement, but signs continue to add up indicating that it's developing into something qualitatively different than the Jabhat al-Nusra of 2014-15 - a "Shami #Taliban," perhaps.
Most recently in the public space, #HTS issued a statement acknowledging its willingness to abide by an externally-negotiated (by #Turkey, #Iran & #Russia) ceasefire.

That was a first.

Its never happened before in #Syria & it's not a move any #AlQaeda affiliate would ever take.
Read 15 tweets
32. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria

#RegimeChange #FakeNews #FalseFlag #terrorism #SyriaInvasion #WarCrimes #CrimesAgainstHumanity
1 to 20. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria 🤨👇🏼
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21. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria🤨👇🏼
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Read 163 tweets
31. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria

#RegimeChange #FakeNews #FalseFlag #terrorism #SyriaInvasion #WarCrimes #CrimesAgainstHumanity
1 to 20. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria 🤨👇🏼
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21. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria🤨👇🏼
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1137566…
Read 259 tweets
29. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria

#RegimeChange #FakeNews #FalseFlag #terrorism #SyriaInvasion #WarCrimes #CrimesAgainstHumanity
1 to 20. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria 🤨👇🏼
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1136642…
21. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Australia, Jordan, Nato in Syria🤨👇🏼
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1137566…
Read 133 tweets
21. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey,Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Jordan, Nato in Syria

#RegimeChange #FakeNews #FalseFlag #terrorism #SyriaInvasion #WarCrimes #CrimesAgainstChildren #CrimesAgainstHumanity
1 to 20. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Jordan, Nato in Syria 😉👇🏼
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🗣️‼️Very important Thread‼️🤨👇🏼
Read 196 tweets
Just now getting around to reading the @UN’s report on AQ & #ISIS.

Some “analysis” of its content on the AQ in #Syria issue has been skewed, to say the least - with some aspects aggrandized & others underplayed.

Report: undocs.org/S/2018/705
@UN #pt: What clearly emerges from the UN report is an AQ *movement* weakened by internal inefficiencies, the consequence of which => a clear AQC undermining of #Nusra/#HTS & empowerment of alternative, loyalists within groups like Nusrat al-Islam (Huras al-Din+) & Ansar al-Tawhid.
@UN #pt: One strange thing came up… the UN report says Sami al-Oraydi & Abu Julaybib’s defection from ‘#Nusra’ resulted in the creation of a “new group under the name of Ansar al-Din.”

Not to my knowledge.

Ansar al-Furqan? Yes.
Also Ansar al-Tawhid.

Ansar al-Din is old/unrelated.
Read 3 tweets
Preparations appear to be underway for a pro-#Assad offensive on #Idlib.

12hrs of on/off air & artillery strikes vs. southeastern & western #Idlib & northern #Hama - see marks on map (original by @ETANA_Syria + my additions).

+ multiple large pro-regime convoys moving north.
@ETANA_Syria #pt: If/when any major military campaign gets underway, expect the #Assad regime (+ #Russia & #Iran-backed militias) to focus on these 2 fronts:

1) West #Idlib (Jisr al-Shughour)
2) N. #Hama/#SE #Idlib (Latamineh, Khan Sheikhoun, Kafrazita)

-> a gradual push ‘inland’ & north.
@ETANA_Syria Very good by @theIRC’s @DMiliband:

- The West must “re-assert” itself & protect civilians in NW #Syria & as a backstop, safe-routes should be opened for civilians to flee into #Turkey.

- UNSC must demand full access to S #Syria; for aid, monitoring etc.

washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-w…
Read 83 tweets
Robert Fisk’s latest “EXCLUSIVE” reveals just how little he knows about #Syria's opposition, its foreign relations & support networks.

Gloss over inaccuracies & he’s “revealed” what we've known for yrs - #Saudi backed the multilateral MOC, arming #FSA.
independent.co.uk/voices/syria-w…
#pt: #Saudi was a principle backer of the MOC; a multilateral structure created to centrally coordinate armed support to [extensively] pre-vetted #FSA groups in northern #Syria.

120mm M75 mortars were one of many systems provided through MOC channels - inc. to units in #Aleppo.
#pt: The purchase of arms from E. European states by countries backing #MOC (& #MOM in the south) has been extensively documented - it’s not a secret.

+ #Fisk’s portrayal of #Aleppo in late-2016 is insanely inaccurate - #ISIS had *0* presence & #Nusra was about 1% of fighters.
Read 5 tweets
BREAKING: #Russias's MoD reports first large group of #FreeSyrianArmy militants sided with #Syria/n gov forces in southern de-escalation zone.Reps of Rus Reconciliation Center in SYR & Syrian authorities negotiated w/ FSA and ... 1/3
...the leader of the Tajammu al-Wiyat al-Omari announced his group would be siding w/ #Syria/n gov.The statement released by #Rus Reconciliation Center says Omari Brigades leader stressed his group will fight against #Nusra Front & #Daesh together w/ SAA in the south of SYR..2/3
According to @mod_russia's Reconciliation Center first units of #Syria/n army entered the settlements of Dama and Ashiyah in the Southern zone of de-escalation by Friday evening 3/3
Read 3 tweets
Watch what the liberates abductees who were kidnapped by #Nusra and #JayshAlIslam terrorists had to say about the so sacred "revolution" backed by US UK NATO Israel and the disgusting Gulf Arabs.
Part 1.
Liberated abductees from #Douma talk about the horrifying years they endured in #JayshAlIslam prisons.
Part 2.
Part 3 of liberated civilian abductees telling their horrific stories when they were kidnapped from #Adra to #Douma back in 2013 by #JayshAlIslam terrorists and how they were forced to dig tunnels and work hard labor.
Read 3 tweets
Important: Here's how the Russian brokered deal to evacuate #Douma involving #SAA & Jaysh al Islam (JAI) went sour, paving the way for a widespread military operation today in the last trapped rebel enclave in East #Ghouta
31. Within 48 hours the deal should be completed, which draws to a close the Russian backed #SAA operation to retake the whole of Eastern #Ghouta
32. Buses enter #Douma just now to start process of taking JAI to #Jarablus under terms of agreement
Read 6 tweets
NEW - #Ahrar al-Sham & Nour al-Din al-Zinki have merged, creating Jabhat Tahrir Souriya, branded with “green” revolutionary flag.

- Ahrar leader Hassan Soufan = leader
- #Zinki leader Tawfiq Shahbuddin = deputy

“JTS” calls on other groups to join for greater unity.
#pt: What does “JTS’s” formation mean?

- Unlikely to be a full merger, but closer Ahrar-Zinki coordinating ties have been clear for months.

- Northern #Syria’s two biggest non-#HTS factions are compiling (with Syrian Islamic Council backing) pressure on #Jolani & HTS.
I’m told that x4 sub-factions of #HTS have agreed to join the newly formed Jabhat Tahrir Souriya (#JTS) and at least x5 others are negotiating possible terms.

#Syria #Idlib
Read 67 tweets

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